By BETH GADDIS
TBO.com

DUNEDIN – Pinellas County deputies are searching for the man who led one of their own on a chase through Dunedin and Clearwater early this morning before trying to run him over, according to the sheriff’s office.

Detectives said Deputy James Cooper saw the suspect get into an unattended 1995 four-door Mitsubishi that was left running in the parking lot of the Dodge’s Convenience Store at 466 Patricia Avenue in Dunedin at 12:45 a.m.

Cooper tried to stop the suspect, according to a press release, but the suspect took off.  The deputy gave chase, and the suspect lost control of his car and crashed at 1469 Jacaranda Circle South in Clearwater, according to the press release.

The deputy parked his cruiser to block the driver side door, then got out of his car and positioned himself by the suspect’s passenger side door, according to investigators.  The suspect then put his car into reverse and took off.  As the deputy returned to his cruiser to give chase again, the suspect drove towards the deputy, and the deputy fired his gun, detectives said.

Detectives did not say whether the suspect was hit.

The suspect kept driving until he crashed into a chain link fence at 600 Smallwood Circle in Clearwater.  He then took off running, according to the press release.

Anyone with information on this case can call the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at (727) 582-6200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS.

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